Styling up very casual trousers

[SashaTwoShoes]

I have two pairs of trousers which are very casual, and I'd love any suggestions for what to wear with them to make the outfit a bit more elegant or formal.
They're these ones from Forgotten Tribes:
www.forgottentribes.com/collections/streetwear/products/asymmetric-cotton-trousers

And these ones from Urban Outfitters:
www.urbanoutfitters.com/en-gb/shop/bdg-khaki-y2k-low-rise-cargo-pants2

They're both very young-person and quirky, which I'm not really. I'm 43, a size 14-ish and I used to live in bootcut jeans and black office trousers. (I have a surgical scar just above my navel which means I can't wear any of the lovely high-waisted trousers in shops right now. These FT and UO trousers are literally the only ones I can find that don't rub on the scar!)

Am I doomed to looking like a scruffy wannabe-teenager, or is there any way to style these up to "jeans level" at least? I'm happy to get them tailored in some way if it would improve them!

I think you'd have to go for fashionable chic. So pumps rather than trainers, tops that fit well, rather than t shirt types. Then good grooming.

I like them, particularly the Forgotten Tribes pair. I'd wear with something tailored - blazer or whatever.

Put formal ladies cargo trousers in Google and go on images.

I love those FT ones! They are edgy enough that you could smarten them up with maybe a silky t shirt, shell top type of thing, and sneakers. Good grooming as @Ponoka7 has said. Same principles for the UO ones, but they are a lot more casual to my eye,,smartening them up may be trickier.

Have you thought about “under bump” maternity trousers to sit away from your scar?

Oh, I think the silky / structured shirt is a good idea. I was also wondering about polo shirts with them, or even a fitted silk shirt?

(The FT are incredibly comfortable, if anyone's thinking of buying them!)

Also very intrigued by under-bump maternity trousers. I didn't even know these were a thing! Do they sit on the hipbones, the way low-rise jeans used to?

Off to google Mothercare...

Similar, but the waist is usually elasticated.

this type of thing

A tucked in silk camisole and a blazer would look fab I reckon, particularly with the forgotten tribes pair.

Google juxtaposition styling and you will get lots of similar ideas to the above.

In terms of shoes would you wear a block healed mule? Maybe even in a neon colour?

What colour are the the Forgotten Tribes ones? It doesn't say on the website, and i can't see whether they're black, grey or olive.

I love the sound of wearing them with neon mules! I think maybe a silky top and slim-fitting shoes would work as a fairly conservative first step. I'm huge of nork, so blazers can sometimes make me look fairly... formidable. Would this shirt look ok with them?
www.lilysilk.com/uk/elegant-v-neck-silk-lace-blouse.html?cs=catalogimagehref

@LydiaGwilt They're olive, and a little bit lighter than they look on the website. They also come up a bit short so if you're long-legged you might want to size up!

Just for anyone thinking of buying the FT trousers: I've a slight tummy but a good waist and they made me look about nine months pregnant ... cool trousers but sadly not for me. Shame.

Twisty grey looks fab though.

Grey TOP!